Man accused in girlfriend's Fourth of July slaying could face death penalty

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A man who is accused of shooting his girlfriend to death will find out Thursday if he will face the death penalty.

[PAST COVERAGE: Judge denies bond for man charged with killing girlfriend on July 4]

Khira McKinley's body was found in a car July 4 on Oakwinds Avenue in north Charlotte.

Sources said she did not live in that neighborhood.

Jerome Davis Jr. is represented by prominent defense attorney Norman Butler.

[PAST COVERAGE: Police charge suspect month after deadly north Charlotte shooting]

The judge denied Davis bail at his first hearing after McKinley's death.

(Davis Jr.)

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Attorney General Josh Stein announced he's looking to expand a program to help victims of domestic violence.

The Lethality Assessment Protocol, or LAP, is already used in Mecklenburg County but the AG wants to make the screening tool statewide.

Here's how it works: When an officer responds to a domestic abuse call, they use an 11-step questionnaire to assess the level of threat facing a spouse or partner. From there, officers can connect victims to resources immediately.

"Law enforcement officers get trained on this protocol and that gives them a tool to determine which people are at the highest risk of being a homicide victim," Stein said.

There are currently 90 counties that don't use the protocol.

Cox Media Group